Insecticons

Originally, the Insecticons were three Decepticons that Megatron had left onboard his ship, the Nemesis, which was pursuing the Ark, as back-up. When the Nemesis crashed on Earth, the trio evacuated in an escape pod, which crashed in an Indonesian swamp. In order to survive, they scanned the forms of the surrounding area's insects. The insect forms they adopted enabled them to extract energon from organic life and metals, though they still ingest fossil fuels and energy-based matter (electricity, energon cubes, etc.) as well. Because they took on the forms of insects the size of Transformers, the three Insecticons caused terror for any humans living nearby. They even developed the ability to make clones of themselves out of any metal.

They were eventually found by Megatron centuries later and were re-recruited back to the Decepticons. But they became more independent as a result of their long absence, making them loose cannons: their relationship with the Decepticons proper was one of betrayals and counter-betrayals. Originally appearing in "A Plague of Insecticons", they were discovered raiding human crops. They quickly joined up with the main Decepticons: unfortunately, the Insecticons swiftly decided this wasn't to their advantage and devoured Megatron's store of Energon instead, resulting in a battle breaking out between the two sides.

After this, the Insecticons entered into a free-lancing relationship with the Decepticons, helping Megatron if they had something to gain from it. They were tricked by Mirage into attacking the Decepticons, later using Bombshell's cerebro-shells to control him and lure the Autobots into a trap. Another deal, with Decepticons and Insecticons working together to raid a military power plant, went awry when they overheard Megatron planning to betray them. Munching on a nova power core, they grew in size and strength. They then controlled all the Decepticons bar Megatron with cerebro-shells, forcing the Decepticon leader to team up with the Autobots to stop his mind-controlled troops. Using Megatron in gun mode, Optimus fired the antidote needed to restore the Insecticons size and prevent the nova core they ingested from overloading.

However, even the Insecticons' rebellious streak was overlooked by Megatron, as the Insecticons could create clones of themselves, thus creating an instant army.

The Insecticons took part in the Battle of Autobot City in 2005, but were badly damaged, and were tossed out into space along with the injured Megatron, Skywarp, and Thundercracker. It is unclear if these were the original Insecticons or some of the many clones they were capable of creating. However, since there is no mention of clones being used during The Transformers: The Movie, we can assume that the writers and animators intended these Insecticons to be the genuine articles. Either way, these discarded Insecticons, along with Skywarp and Thundercracker, were used by Unicron to create new Decepticon troops for Galvatron, with Bombshell possibly becoming Cyclonus (although the issue of whether Cyclonus was a recreated Bombshell or Skywarp is unclear), and with Shrapnel and Kickback becoming Sweeps.

The clone question comes into play when, later in the film, Shrapnel harasses Daniel Witwicky alongside Scavenger. In the third season of Transformers, the Insecticons were still displayed in marginal roles (although their third season appearances are usually dismissed as animation errors).

Each of the basic Insecticons had a way to control other robots.

Shrapnel: Stag Beetle

Abilities: Shrapnel can control other robots (as well as almost any electrically run device) by remote with his antennas. In robot mode, his antennae can, in the proper weather conditions, attract massive bolts of lightning from the sky to augment his own electrical generating capacity, and then release that power through his hands. In insect mode, Shrapnel can use his twin antennae to generate an electric burst of up to 40,000 volts.

Weapons: Grenade launcher

Bombshell: Japanese rhinoceros beetle

Abilities: Mind control (see Cerebro-shells below)

Weapons: Cerebro-shells (humans) - In his insect form, Bombshell uses his stinger to inject a micro-circuited device into a human’s head. It travels through the blood until it reaches the brain, whereupon it opens up and releases tens of thousands of connecting wires. The wires coil around nearby neural dendrites until the brain’s conscious functions are effectively rerouted through the cerebro-shell, which puts the mind of the victim under the remote control of Bombshell.

Weapons: Cerebro-shells (Transformers) - Bombshell’s stinger is used in much the same way against other robots’ high-function mental circuitry. The major difference is that once the stinger is pressed against the metal casing of the victim’s head, the small laser torches on the sides of the stinger rotate rapidly to carve a small hole in the casing, allowing the stinger to inject a cerebro-shell.

Weapons: Head-mounted mortar cannon

Kickback: Grasshopper

Abilities: Kickback is adept at controlling others through blackmail. In his insect mode, Kickback can use his legs to leap up to heights of 40 feet and over distances of a tenth of a mile. Although small in this form, with a single kick he can punch a hole in a one-quarter-inch steel plate.

Weapons: Submachine gun

Trypticon

Affiliation Decepticon

Japanese name Dinosaurer

Sub-Group Micro Beasts

Function Assault Base

Partner Full-Tilt, Brunt

Motto "Total victory requires total destruction."

Alternate Modes City/Battle Station

Series Transformers: Generation 1Transformers: Classics

English voice actor Brad Garret

Japanese voice actor Daisuke Gōri

Trypticon is the Decepticons' principal command base. He has three modes: a city, a mobile battle station, and a Tyrannosaurus rex. In each mode, he has a variety of weapons. As an added gimmick, the toy's Tyrannosaurus Rex mode can actually walk, operated with a battery-powered motor.

Although Trypticon appeared to be a ruthless killer, delighting in his battles, Trypticon was in fact insecure wondering if the Decepticon cause was in fact the right one for him. Trypticon is aided with two remote-controlled drones, called Full-Tilt and Brunt. Trypticon’s Autobot counterpart is Metroplex.

In the American cartoon, Trypticon was created in 2005 from a human city by the Constructicons, to act as the main weapon in the Earth-based half of the Decepticon-Quintesson alliance’s two-pronged strike on the Autobots. Trypticon’s first action was the destruction of the Ark, and he then proceeded to attack the helpless Autobot City. The city’s sub-section, the colossal Autobot known as Metroplex, had been left unable to transform by the destruction of his transforming cog, but just in time, Blurr, Wheelie, Sky Lynx and Marissa Faireborn returned with the replacement, allowing Metroplex to transform to robot mode and dispose of Trypticon, defeating him in battle and hurling him into the ocean.

Trypticon survived the encounter, however, and walked across the seabed to the prehistoric Dinobot Island, where he recuperated. In short order, however, he was located by the Decepticon wheeler-dealer, Octane, who took him to the Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya, where the country’s ruler, Supreme Military Dictator, King of Kings, and President for Life Abdul Fakkadi paid for their military services. When Fakkadi tired of spending his country’s oil on the two Decepticons, Trypticon began to steal national monuments to placate him, but eventually the arrival of Galvatron forced Fakkadi to call in the Autobots. Once again, Metroplex battled Trypticon and defeated him.

One of Trypticon’s eyes was stolen by Starscream's ghost and Scourge for Unicron, and Starscream then possessed Trypticon himself in order to deliver the behemoth's Transforming Cog to Unicron. Before Starscream could direct Trypticon to make the connections that would give Unicron a new body, however, the Decepticons inside Trypticon disconnected some of his systems, leaving him immobile and preventing Starscream from making him move.

In preparation for a later attack on Autobot City, the Decepticons successfully stole Metroplex’s transforming cog. In retaliation, however, the Autobots had their human allies appropriate Trypticon’s. With each of the cities now fitted with the other's incompatible cog, Trypticon and Metroplex battled again, partially transforming back and forth from mode to mode, until First Aid correctly aligned the cog within Metroplex, allowing him to fully transform and defeat Trypticon yet again.

Trypticon's last appearance saw him called to a dead world in an ancient region of the galaxy along with many other Transformer "primitives" (those possessing animal alternate modes), where they were charged with defeating Tornedron, the creation of insane genius Primacron, who had also built Unicron. Unfortunately for Trypticon, he was the first to fall to Tornedron, and, drained of all his energy, nearly crushed his comrades as he collapsed. When Tornedron was defeated, the energy he absorbed was released, restoring Trypticon. Nevertheless, he did not make any further appearances in the American cartoon series. Trypticon was voiced by Brad Garret.

Brawl

Affiliation Decepticon

Sub-Group Combaticons, Scouts

Function Ground Assault

Motto "I was built to be wild."

Alternate Modes Leopard 1 tank

Series Transformers: Generation 1Transformers: Generation 2Transformers: Universe

Voiced by Tony St. James (English)Masashi Ebara (Japanese)

Brawl originally appeared as a group of five Decepticons known as the Combaticons who were able to combine together to form a larger robot known as Bruticus. As a basic sized combiner limb, Brawl could become the arm or leg to any similar combiner Transformers; he was usually found to be the left leg of Bruticus.

According to his original bio, he was noisy, has hair-trigger temper, belligerent, and irritable. He is resistant to most conventional artillery. He shoots 200 Ibs TNT-equivalent shells from his turret, and twin sonic guns shoot 300-decibel bursts of concentrated sound energy. In robot mode, he wields 10-megawatt electron gun.

The Combaticons first U.S. appearance in Issue 24 of the U.S. Marvel comics was unexplained in the American comic, however it is assumed that they were created in the same way as the Stunticons were through Bombshell's cerebro-shell attached to Optimus Prime tapping the energies of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership.

The company 'Energy Futures Industries' was a hydrothermocline plant which the Decepticons wanted to steal for their own energy resources. Megatron and the Combaticons launched an assault only to encounter the Protectobots and Optimus Prime. With both teams now combined into Bruticus and Defensor, the human Ethan Zachary offered a solution - that the two teams battled inside a computer program. Not wanting to destroy what they had come to steal Megatron agreed. Predictably the Combaticons' bloodlust was turned against them as their disregard for the programs sentient beings led to Swindle and Brawl being destroyed by First Aid. However, the Decepticons still won as Optimus Prime felt he had cheated by endangering innocent life in the game and destroyed himself. Shortly after this Brawl made the mistake of questioning Megatron's belief that Prime was still alive. The increasingly deranged Decepticon leader crushed Brawl's head with his bare hands.

Brawl would continue to make sporadic appearances throughout the U.S. and UK comics, clashing twice more with the Protectobots as Bruticus and attacking the Autobot leadership contest between Grimlock and Blaster. The Combaticons were not shown to be deactivated by the Underbase powered Starscream, but as they were not seen again in the G1 comic, it is likely. Brawl did reappear in the Transformers: Generation 2 comic, where he and the other Combaticons were destroyed by the forces of Jhiaxus.

Brawl was originally a Decepticon criminal that had his personality component extracted by Shockwave. In "Starscream's Brigade" he was one of five later recovered by Starscream, exiled from the Decepticons after one clash too many with Megatron. Hitting on the idea of creating his own loyal troops from the wrecked vehicles left on Guadalcanal after World War II battles there, he installed their personality components into the rebuilt vehicles, thus creating the Combaticons, with Brawl having the alternate mode of a Leopard 1 tank. After a series of attacks on both Autobots and Decepticons, they were defeated by Menasor and exiled to space.

In "The Revenge of Bruticus", ridding themselves of Starscream they would then attempt to conquer Cybertron, defeating Shockwave's army, and then attempt to destroy Earth by sending it towards the sun. They were eventually stopped by Optimus Prime, Megatron and Starscream, but they survived - under Megatron's control.

While he would mostly appear as part of the Combaticons, the episode "B.O.T." would spotlight Swindle and Brawl near exclusively. After a gestalt-on-gestalt battle between Bruticus and Defensor the Combaticons' combined form was demolished, with only Swindle remaining intact. The ever opportunistic Swindle took the opportunity to sell his comrades' parts - much to the fury of Megatron. Recovering all but Brawl's personality component, Megatron had him fitted with a bomb to give him extra "motivation". Eventually he located it installed in a high school science project called B.O.T. (which had gone on the rampage due to Brawl's influence).

Eventually recovering Brawl's personality components the Combaticons merged into Bruticus, but were stopped by Defensor, forcing them to flee.

Brawl would continue to appear in a limited capacity throughout the third season.

Frenzy

Affiliation Decepticon

Sub-Group Communications, Go-Bots

Function Warrior

Partner Laserbeak

Motto "Sow panic and surrender will bloom!"

Alternate Modes Microcassette TapeCar

Series Transformers: Generation 1Transformers: Generation 2

English voice actor Frank Welker

Frenzy's is often partnered with Soundwave, along with other cassette Decepticons Ravage, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw. Because of his coloration on the original cartoon, he is sometimes identified as Rumble. The toy is colored blue and indigo, but his cartoon model is red, black, and gold. His toy-accurate color scheme in the Marvel Comics series remained intact, and following media such as Dreamwave and IDW's comics followed the toy's colors as well.

The animated series accidentally swapped the color schemes for Rumble and Frenzy - Rumble was now colored as Frenzy and vice-versa.

In the animated series, Frenzy was not as prominent a character as Rumble, first appearing in the episode "Countdown To Extinction" and made few appearances after that, usually appearing alongside Rumble.

Autobot Brawn faces Decepticons Rumble and Frenzy in Marvel's Transformers comics.
According to the Marvel Transformers comics Rumble and Frenzy are brothers. Unlike the cartoon version, Marvel Frenzy had powers based on sonics rather than piledriver arms.

In the comics Frenzy was one of the Decepticons that originally attacked the Ark and subsequently fell to Earth. Reconfigured into the Earth mode of a microcassette he participated in many of the early battles against the Autobots. Until, that is, he was one of those who went with Megatron in his raid against the Autobot base, summarily getting deactivated by Omega Supreme along with Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Rumble and Buzzsaw. That would be all the US comics heard from Frenzy for a while but the UK comics had him returning much sooner in the Target: 2006 storyline, where, after escaping from the Ark with Thundercracker they and Shockwave would be displaced into a limbo dimension to make way for time-travellers Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr, where they battled against Optimus Prime, Prowl and Ratchet, as well as parasitic aliens feeding off their emotions. Working together to find a way out they returned to reality when Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge time-jumped back to the future. In the UK comics he seemingly rejoined the ranks of the Decepticons, while he was freed from the Autobot base in U.S. issue 41.

Barricade

Affiliation Decepticon

Sub-Group Cyber SlammersMicro VehiclesDeluxe Vehicles

Partner Frenzy

Alternate Modes Saleen S281 Police patrol car

Series Transformers movie toys

English voice actor Jess Harnell[5][6][7]Keith David (video game)

Barricade first featured in 1990 as part of a Decepticon race track patrol team, his vehicle mode being a Formula One racing car.

Barricade learned how to take care of himself while running with Cybertron's most vicious racing gangs, and he brings that same brutal edge to his position as leader of the Race Track Patrol. His troops know that the slightest mistake will result in a merciless dressing down in front of the others, and they strive to meet his exacting standards. His hard-nosed, abusive leadership style doesn't do much for morale, but he figures it's for their own good.

Barricade is the commander of the team and pushes the other members. His only fictional appearance is in the Dreamwave comics Micromaster series.

Originally named "Runner", Barricade was created as part of a cross-factional experiment in which new Micromasters were allowed to function as neutrals, and to choose their own affiliations. Barricade quickly saw the potential rewards of joining the Decepticons, and earmed the new moniker "Barricade" in recognition of his blockade-running tactics.

Barricade eventually became disillusioned by how the Micromasters were treated, and joined up with Decepticon Micromaster agitator Skystalker.

In the 2007 live-action movie, Barricade is a Decepticon that transforms into a Saleen S281 Extreme (a modified Ford Mustang) police car, making him similar in appearance to the G1 Autobot Prowl, who was actually in the first draft of the movie treatment before the writers thought that a Decepticon police car would be a better idea. He is a hunter/scout of the Decepticons, choosing his vehicle mode to easily hide among the humans as a symbol of authority. His persona appears to be that of the cliché "bad cop", as he fiercely interrogates Sam Witwicky once he locates him. In the game his weapons are Gatling cannons and plasma lasers, but he mainly elongates his arms to reveal spinning spikes in his hands and uses them as close-combat striking weapons, and also as a steel flail, similar to nunchuks. When in car mode he can simulate the appearance of a human driver, the same holographic model (referred to as "Mustache Man" on-set and in the credits) that "pilots" Blackout and Starscream.

In leaked versions of the script, this character was originally codenamed Brawl - he even appeared with his name on some of the concept art. The name was later changed to Barricade when the official list of Transformers appearing in the movie was released; the name Brawl would go to another Decepticon. His rear quarter reads "To punish and enslave" a parody of the classic police slogan "To Protect and Serve". The front quarter police logos have the Decepticon symbol on them and the writing "Pacis Quod Alcedonia", Latin for "Still, Halcyon Days of Peace", and "Incorporated since June 1865".

The official guide to the Transformers video game says he's 16 feet tall. The Transformers U.K. magazine states he is 16 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 2.2 tons and has a maximum speed of 300 mph. An early interview with Michael Bay states that he is 18 feet tall. The deluxe toy suggests he is 19 feet tall at the shoulders.

The Legends 2-pack with Cliffjumper and Recon Barricade says that Cliffjumper and Barricade are old rivals. Cliffjumper often taunts Barricade into making mistakes.

Other than Scorponok and Frenzy, Barricade is the only non-military Decepticon. In fact, he and his partner Frenzy seem to be the only Decepticons who can blend into a civilian environment.

Some speculation has occurred as well to Barricade being another version of Soundwave, as one of Soundwave's partner's in the Generation 1 series was also named Frenzy. Barricade shows this quality by the sound of his voice almost being a fully robotic state (with almost no human traits to it at all), and with where Frenzy emerges from is similar to his G1 counterpart (transforms from cassette mode into robot mode by ejecting from Soundwave's chest).